The white picket fence is probably the most popular fence in the US since the colonial era. Traditionally they were made of wood and painted white although the most common material used today is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) but there are other materials you can use …
The boards making up a picket fence are evenly spaced, typically between three and four feet tall. What I never thought about until writing this article, was the design of the pickets. Each board has a pointed top resembling the pointed stakes used historically by the infantry to repel the calvary.
In contract to keeping people out of our yards, today we often use fencing to keep children and pets in the yard. Some fences and especially the picket fence, is also used as a decorative element when landscaping your home.
An Extraordinary Picket Fence
An Extraordinary Picket FenceThat's why I found this extraordinary fence so amazing. The fence has a mirrored finish that reflects the landscape nearby. The fence works a lot like the mirror you use to view your outfit before leaving home in the morning. The only difference really is you can't change the location of the surrounding landscape.
More challenging that most decisions about where to install a new fence, with this mirrored picket fence you've got to think through where it will capture and reflect the best view. And it's not just the view you see now when picking the location. This picket fence changes with the seasons, seen here reflecting a lush green field.
Mirror Fence Artwork by Alyson Shotz
Photography by Jerry L. Thompson (more seasons here)
Installation at the Storm King Art Center in New York
From the Storm King website, the artist Alyson Shotz says about her fence, “… “I’m interested in making objects that change infinitely, depending on their surroundings. The light at different times of day, the weather, the seasons… all these are just some of the variables that will make the piece different every time one comes in contact with it. For me an ideal work of art is one that is ultimately unknowable in some way.”
And once the leaves start to fall, this magical fence reflects the leaves and the mountains in the far distance that you can only see once the leaves fall from the trees.
How Many Fence Materials are There?
We've written several articles on fencing, including helping you make decisions about why you want one and the material choices you'll want to consider. Here are a few of our most popular articles on fencing … and walls. That's because walls offer a different look and feel from fencing.
- Picking Your Fence Style
- Fence Materials for Every Budget
- Fencing For Privacy, Safety or Curb Appeal?
- Stone Walls, A Stone Bench or Stone Seat?
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